Charlie Allen Discusses his 50-year Career in US Intelligence at Homeland Security Policy Institute

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov 04, 2009 -
On Tuesday, October 27, 2009, The George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) welcomed The Honorable Charles Allen for a discussion of the key events and lessons learned during his distinguished career of 50+ years in the US intelligence community.  Allen joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1958, served as the first National Intelligence Officer for Counterterrorism, the first Chief of Intelligence in the newly established Counterterrorist Center, and eventually became Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Collection and later, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis.  Frank Cilluffo, HSPI’s Director, moderated the event.

To an audience of policymakers, academics, practitioners, and students, Mr. Allen provided eyewitness accounts of Cold War struggles against the Soviet Union.  He reviewed American attempts to tunnel into the Soviet sector of East Berlin; the development of the U-2 and SR-71 spy planes; and the multiple failures but eventual success of the Corona project to develop spy satellites.  Allen brought to life the Cuban Missile Crisis—from the shock of the discovery of Soviet warheads, to the exhaustion, fear, and eventual relief that came when Khrushchev broadcasted his acceptance of President Kennedy’s deal.  Allen reviewed critical events in the Middle East, noting the CIA’s failure to warn of the October 1973 war involving Egypt, Syria, and Israel; the Agency’s failure to detect the placement of Soviet nuclear weapons in Egypt; and his personal yet unheeded attempts in 1990 to warn individuals at the White House and Pentagon of Saddam Hussein’s imminent invasion of Kuwait.  Finally, Allen reviewed the rise of international terrorism, highlighting successful actions against Libya, but poignantly observing the United States’ collective failure to respond to the growing threat posed by al Qaeda.  

Opening the question and answer session, Mr. Cilluffo asked, “Is there anyone who does warning well?  What structural changes are needed in order to provide the best information to our decision-makers?”  Allen responded that although a few nations do in fact do warning well, including the United Kingdom, no intelligence service does a particularly good job.  Throughout the discussion, Mr. Allen stressed two themes in regard to US intelligence operations.  First, it is vitally important to emphasize content taken in context over raw data, in order to move us from information to understanding and actionable knowledge.  Second, Washington’s blame game undermines US national security by needlessly punishing and demoralizing intelligence professionals.  In sum, Mr. Allen remarked, “I found intelligence rewarding.  I’ve lived it.  I’ve breathed it.  I believe it is the heart of US national security and its objective is to inform, not make, policy.

See HSPI’s website for audio as well as other resources for this event: http://www.gwumc.edu/hspi/events/CharlieAllenresource.cfm